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Today I saw The Box
This is the latest effort from Richard Kelly, who made 'Donnie Darko' and 'Southland Tales'. It's more Darko than Tales, but it doesn't really work as well as the latter. While it did raise some interesting questions for us to talk about as we walked out of the cinema, it borders on silliness a lot of the time, particularly during the really odd scene in the library that doesn't quite seem to fit. The mood is incredibly sombre and creepy and there's exactly zero relief, which makes it feel really long. There's also a bit of general literature snobbery and Adam-and-Eve referencing sexism that bothered me a lot. James Marsden is pretty fantastic in it, as is Frank Langella. I liked getting to see James not be the 'other' guy that gets screwed over, but get to play a real, detailed, interesting role. He's a lot better than people give him credit for (and GORGEOUS to boot, he looks so good in this.) The movie on the whole looks really terrific, it's beautifully shot. There are some really silly special effects that just don't work for me in the current age, though. They don't seem to work as well as in Donnie Darko, where everything is filtered through the mind of a disturbed teenage boy. Also, the movie seems to imply that everyone is the same and we don't really make different choices or decisions - for the cycle in the movie to continue to work, that has to be the case. So, interesting but frustrating.
3.5 out of 5
Then I went and had lunch and birthday pie with a heap of my friends, which was really fun. Cath is like...the coolest person ever. We need to hang out more.
After that nearly everyone left, and Jamie and I went back to the movies to see Moon
Wow. Sam Rockwell is an acting giant and needs to be better appreciated. He is astonishing in this film, where he pretty much only acts against a clunky robot and...another version of himself. This movie is really, really good, you guys. I was spoiled going into it and I don't want to spoil anyone else. It's shot nicely, not as well as 'The Box', but there's a certain spare charm to this one that really brings home the feelings of alienation and confusion that Sam goes through. Mostly, though, it's a tour de force performance from Rockwell that elevates this one - Sam Bell is such a real, flawed, fleshed out, and ultimately sympathetic character. I felt so bad for the poor guy. There were a couple of scenes that I felt ran too long, but otherwise Moon was excellent. Go see it.
4 out of 5
Then dinner with Jamie, Mitchell and Kyle, and then home and now bed.
Green Queen
This is the latest effort from Richard Kelly, who made 'Donnie Darko' and 'Southland Tales'. It's more Darko than Tales, but it doesn't really work as well as the latter. While it did raise some interesting questions for us to talk about as we walked out of the cinema, it borders on silliness a lot of the time, particularly during the really odd scene in the library that doesn't quite seem to fit. The mood is incredibly sombre and creepy and there's exactly zero relief, which makes it feel really long. There's also a bit of general literature snobbery and Adam-and-Eve referencing sexism that bothered me a lot. James Marsden is pretty fantastic in it, as is Frank Langella. I liked getting to see James not be the 'other' guy that gets screwed over, but get to play a real, detailed, interesting role. He's a lot better than people give him credit for (and GORGEOUS to boot, he looks so good in this.) The movie on the whole looks really terrific, it's beautifully shot. There are some really silly special effects that just don't work for me in the current age, though. They don't seem to work as well as in Donnie Darko, where everything is filtered through the mind of a disturbed teenage boy. Also, the movie seems to imply that everyone is the same and we don't really make different choices or decisions - for the cycle in the movie to continue to work, that has to be the case. So, interesting but frustrating.
3.5 out of 5
Then I went and had lunch and birthday pie with a heap of my friends, which was really fun. Cath is like...the coolest person ever. We need to hang out more.
After that nearly everyone left, and Jamie and I went back to the movies to see Moon
Wow. Sam Rockwell is an acting giant and needs to be better appreciated. He is astonishing in this film, where he pretty much only acts against a clunky robot and...another version of himself. This movie is really, really good, you guys. I was spoiled going into it and I don't want to spoil anyone else. It's shot nicely, not as well as 'The Box', but there's a certain spare charm to this one that really brings home the feelings of alienation and confusion that Sam goes through. Mostly, though, it's a tour de force performance from Rockwell that elevates this one - Sam Bell is such a real, flawed, fleshed out, and ultimately sympathetic character. I felt so bad for the poor guy. There were a couple of scenes that I felt ran too long, but otherwise Moon was excellent. Go see it.
4 out of 5
Then dinner with Jamie, Mitchell and Kyle, and then home and now bed.
Green Queen
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Glad your b-day was nice, btw!!!